Brush-making machinery



Sept. 6, 1932. c. BARNETT ET AL BRUSH MAKING MACHINERY Filed April 19,1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1932. c. BARNETT ET AL BRUSH MAKINGMACHINERY Filed April 19. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I|||||$.\lllvlllllnllllullll||lll llllilllll Sept. 6, 1932- c BARNETT ET AL1,375,551

BRUSH MAKING MACHINERY 5 SheetsSheet 3 Filed April 19. 1930 awxzeaATTORNEY Sept. 5, 1932- c. BARNETT ET AL 1,375,551

BRUSH MAKING MACHINERY Filed April '19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4.

HT TOR/V15) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 c. BARNETT ET AL BRUSH MAKING- MACHINERYFiled April 19, 1950 Sept. 6, 1932.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 pairs!) VQSTTATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CHARLES BARNETTAND WILLIAM BARNETT, or HATFIELD, HERTS, ENGLAND BRUSH-MAKIN MACHINERYApplication filed April 19, 1930, Serial No. 445,694, and. in GreatBritain April 26, 1929 7 This invention relates to brush makingmachinery and has for its object to provide an improved automaticmachine for selecting a knot or tuft (hereinafter called knot) ml ofbristles, and subjecting it in steps .tothe various operations requiredto form a completed knot which can afterwards be inserted into a stockto form a brush or broom.

The material from which the knots are to be made will be referred to inthis Specification as bristles, but it is to be understood that thisterm is to include bass and any other material suitable for use in themanufacture of brooms and brushes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which anendless band preferably of metal is provided near one edge with a numberof equally spaced openings to act as collectors for the bristles and toconvey the knot of bristles thus selected to the stations in which thevarious operations are performed.

These knot openings extend to the edge of the band, the opening at theedge being approz-zimately half the diameter of the whole but such as toenable the bristles to be gathered into the openings.

A further object is to provide an improved knot selector mechanism inwhich a bristle box is provided with gravity or other means for pressingthe bristles up against the edge of the band and is given areciprocating movement, preferably by means of an eccentric, to keep thebristles in a constant state of agitation.

Withthese and other objects in view the invention consists in theimproved constructions, combinations and arrangements comprised withinthe machine described in detail later and set out in the claims whichfollow. g

The improved machine is particularly applicable for the manufacture ofknots forming the subject matter of application No. 445,695 of even dateherewith; in this improved form of knot the individual bristles leavethe sleeve, cup or other bindingin a direction inclined to planespassing through the axis of the knot and intersecting the bristles atpoints at which they leave the sleeve, and the machine is provided withmeans by which the bristle is subjected to a twisting action during thecrimping of cor rugated metal sleeves around the bristles.

Referring to the accompanying drawings whichillustrate the invention ina diagrammatic manner,

Fig. 1 represents a front'elevation of the machine with the centreportion thereof cut away to savespace, 4 f V w i Fig. 2 represents aplan view of the machine with the two end portions cutaway,

V Fig. 3. representsian end elevation of the machine taken on the lefthand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. lis a detail view to larger scale illustra ting' the crimping diesfor giving the initial compresson to the sleeves.

, Fig 5 is a detail view to enlarged scale illustrating a set of diesfor giving a com.- 7

pression-operation, after the crimping action. Fig. 6 is a detail viewto enlarged scale illustrating especially the bristle feed boxmechanism.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the endless band A is provided atequally spaced intervals with openings a of diameter conforming to thediameter of the knot, these'openings extending to the edge ofthe band.The

band passes over pulleys K, K at each end of: the machine, the pulley Kbeing driven by means of crown pins M which'are engaged by means of acam N of cylindrical form and provided with a cam track so as to giveintermittent motion to the wheel K. This cam N is mounted on a shaft Rdriven from the main driving pulley O of the machine and cross shaft 0through a longitudinal main shaft P, supplementaryshaft 0 and verticalshaft Q. The pulley K is provided with tensioning'me'ansby means ofwhich the tightness of the endless band A can be adjusted, thistensioning means preferably taking the formof a tensioning screw L whichoperates a saddle S upon which the pulley K is mounted and which isremovable at the opening at the end of the machine framing I. 1

V The bristles are housed with axes vertical in a feed box B later to bedescribed in detail and pass from this feed box into the band A whichcarries them past the various operating stations.

These stations comprise the following in the machine illustrated; an endtrimmer G; a sleeve threading mechanism D; a bath E for providing pitchor other adhesive to the under side of the bristles when desired; acrimping die F in which the bristles are given a twisting motionrelatively to the cup prior to the crimping action and first and secondcompressing dies Gr and H at which the cups are given a final pressingaction.

The threading mechanism comprises a turret plate D into which sleeevsarerfed and which is rotated intermittently by a pawl D a plunger israised intermittently-to thread a sleeve on each knot of bristles as theopen ings a come under the plunger. As the plunger rises a pair of jaws(not shown) encircle the bristles above the plunger and so holds theendsof the bristles compact to enable the sleeve (preferably of conicalform) easily to pess on to the knot of bristles. The completed knots areejected from the band A by an ejector Y, Fig. 1.

In order to maintain the bristles in the endless band after they havepassed out of a guard plate forming part of the feed box mechanism anumber offingers j are carried upon and endless conveyor J mountedbetween horizontal pinions k, provided at each end of the machine. Thesefingers j project outwardly from triangular links 7' and are springpressed outwards and controlled in their movements at each end by meansof guide plates Z, Z.

The various dies and other operative mechanisms are operated by asuitable cam and lever mechanism from the main shaft P. The trimmingcutter C takes the form of a reciprocating blade I) which acts on theunder side of the projecting bundle of bristles and trims the bundle sothat the bottoms of all the bristles are atthe same depth.

Referring now to Fig. 4;, the crimping mechanism comprises ten arms 7which point radially towards each other and are normally spacedsufliciently far apart to pass upwards outside the bristles projectingbelow the sleeve. The arms 7 are mounted on pivots f in plates f carriedby a vertical shaft W. These plates are splined in a cylindrical sleevef projecting downwards from the top-plate F of the die. This plate ismounted with ball bearings g which allow it to partake of a rotarymovement relative to a lower plate F The openings in the plate F throughwhich the arms 7 pass are tapered and the arms f are correspondinglytapered as shown so that relative axial movement between the plate F andthe'shaft W will cause the dies to move radially inwards. The lowerplate F is supported by rods F engaging cams T on the main'shaft P andthe shaft -W engages cams U, the lower part of the shaft W being capableof rotary move mentin relation to the portion which engages these cams.The shaft lV carries a pinion V which is in mesh with a long pinion (notshown) to which periodical angular movement is given by cam mechanismand the various cams are so timed that the die as a whole moves upwardsto bring the arms 7 levelwith the corrugated sleeve which was threadedon to the nut at the station D. The plate f then moves relatively to theshaft VJ so asto cause the arms f lightly to grip the sleeve and theshaft V is then given a part rotation which causes the sleeve to twistand i as the bristles are held in the opening a in arms f are then movedfurther in to give the 1 full crimping action, whereupon the bristlesare fixed in the sleeve with the requisite inclination which gives afan-like effect to the top when the knot is released.

The compressing dies each comprise two pairs of opposed dies whichalternately move radially against the sleeve encircling the bristles.One pair of dies 9 7L has semi-circular ends and the other pair 9 lfihas flat ends, the flat ends coming first into action of the pair.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the dies 9 g are carried in radial slides gengaged by pivoted arms 9 mounted in pivots g in a frame g. Rollers gmounted in a cage g are caused by a cam m to move vertically relativelyto the frame 9' and the arms 9 are so shapedas to cause the dies to moveradially in the requisite sequence.

he feed box mechanism which forms an important feature of the inventionis shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6. The feed box B is sup ported byflexible arms X secured in base members 00 and the feed box hasconnected to it on one side a'link d which is pivoted to a crank pin emounted adjustably in a slot 2' in a plate 0 carried at the top of ashaft 72 (Fig.

3) driven from a pulley p. The box B is therefore given a reciprocatingmovement parallel to the direction of movement of the band A, the amountof the reciprocation de pending upon the adjustment of the pin a in theslot 2'. To assist in guiding the box in this movement it carriesunderneath it a projecting flange g which passes between rollers rmounted in pedestals on the framework of the machine.

The bristles are placed with axes vertical in the box B and are pressedforwards by means of a depending back plate 8 carried by a top slide 8which is guided by rollers s and is connected by a link t which ispivoted to an arm u (Figs. 1 and 3) which is constantly pressed forwardsby suitable spring or gravity means not shown. The link t is connectedto the top plate 8 and to the arm a guide plate 10 is provided Whichdirects the bristles whlch have moved into the openlngs a towards therear thereof and holds theminto position until they come under theinfluence of thelingers The combined action of theforward pressure ofthe back plate 8 and the reciprocating movement of the box B causes thebristles gradually to Work their Way into the notches until by the timethe notches have passed out of the box they have collected the requisitenumber of bristles to form the knot.

When the completed knots have passed out of the influence of the fingersat the lefthand side of the machine as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings they are ejected from the band A by a cam-operated ejectorY and pass then into a suitable re ceptacle or may pass direct byautomatic conveyor mechanism to apparatus for fixing them in brushorbroom stocks.

not restricted to the exact details shown and described but embracessuch modifications as come Within the amb1t of the accompanylng claims.

We claim l. A machine for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination a series of operating stations and afiexible band conveyorhaving equally spaced notches in its ride. means for inserting knots ofbristles in said notches, and a plurality ofspaced members movingparallel to said bandholding the knots in said spaced notches.

2. A machine for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination a conveyor, means for feeding knots of bristles into saidconveyor, means for trimming the ends of said bristles, means forthreading a sleeve on said bristles, means for compressing said sleevearound said bristles in a plurality of stages and means for ejectingsaid knots fromthe conveyor.

3. A machine for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination means for clamping a sleeve around a knot of bristies andmeans for twisting said knot relatively to said sleeve prior to theclosure of the clamping means.

A. A machine for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination means for clamping a sleeve around a knot of bristles andmeans for giving said clamping means an axial and a rotary movement inrelation to the axis of said knot.

"curved faces. V

6. A machme for makmgknotsfor brooms j 5. 'A machine for making knotsfor brooms and brushes having 111 --'combmat1on means for clamplngaslee've'around a knot of bristles and sets of opposed dies movedradially alternately to compress said sleeve around the knot, thefirst'setto come into operation having flat faces and the second sethaving and brushes having in combination" a bristle"feed box, a memberhaving notches in the front thereof to receive knots of bristles, meansfor moving said memberstep by step across the-feed box, means forpressing the bristles against said notched member and means for givingreciprocations to said feed box along the front of said notched mem-'ber. V 7. A machine for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination a bristle feed box, a member having notchesin the frontthereof to receive knots of bristles, means for moving said member stepby step across the feed box, means for pressing the bristles againstsaid notched member, means for giving reciprocations to said feed boxalong the front of said notched member and means for adjusting theamplitude of said reciprocations.

8. A machine for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination a brief tle feed box, a member having notches in the frontthereof to receive knots of bristles, means for moving said member stepby step across the feed box, means for pressing the bristles againstsaid notched member, means for giving reciprocations to said feed boxalong the front of said notched member and flexible supports for feedbox permitting said reciprocations.

9. A machine-for making knots for brooms and brushes having incombination a bristle feed box, a member having notches in the frontthereof to receive knots of bristles, means for moving said member stepby step across the feed box, means for pressing the bristles againstsaid notched member, means for giving reciprocations to said feed boxalong the front of said notched member and an adjustable guide platesubstantially mask- 11. A machine for making knots for brooms andbrushes having'ln comblnatlon a'feed bog; for contamlng bristles, aserles of operating stations, an endless flexible con-I veyor providedwith notches for holding bundles of bristles, said Conveyor passing in e1 front of said feed box and. conveying buntures.

dles of bristles from said feed. box to' said opemting stations untilthe knots are completed; i

In testimony whereof We afiix our signa- 7 CHARLES BARNETT. WILLIAMBARNETT.

